Contest over: Rick Treviño

One of the most successful Hispanics in country music is coming to South Texas next week.

Rick Treviño, who had a string of hits in the 1990s, including "She Can't Say I Didn't Cry," will perform Friday in Mercedes at the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Showgrounds for a charity event.

The show and dance is sponsored by Champion Health Care, and proceeds from the event will benefit the American Cancer Society. Michelle Guzman, the healthcare company's owner, holds a special place in her heart for the charity; her mother is a breast cancer survivor, said her brother, Rocky Guzman.

They expect this to be the beginning of a series of concerts sponsored by the healthcare agency to provide the Valley with quality family entertainment at an affordable price, said Rocky.

“We’re in talks with a couple of other artists,” he said.

Rick Treviño hit it big in 1994 with the single “She Can’t Say I Didn’t Cry," which peaked at No. 3 on Billboard’s country chart, and “Bobbie Ann Mason," which made it into the Top 20.

Congratulations to our winner, Mark!

Rick Treviño
WITH: Texas Reign
WHEN: 7 p.m. .Friday, July 31
WHERE: RGV Livestock Showgrounds Event Center
COST: $15
BUY TICKETS: Boot Jack, Cavenders, Bull Riders, Lionel’s Western Wear

Festiva spoke with Rick Treviño while he was on the road headed north for a show in Kansas.

Enjoying the drive?

Uh, not so much. (laughs) I-35 is just I-35, you know, it can be a little bit … it’s not quite the spectacle. I’d rather drive south, I-35 south.

When you visit a new city, do you get a chance to get to know it a little bit?

We like to try to find some local cuisine. That’s really all we have time for … we traveled to San Benito a while back, it might’ve been six weeks ago for the Freddy Fender memorial … it was a big honor … when we were there we found a couple of great Mexican restaurants.

When you’re driving to the next city, how do you make the time pass?

Well, I’ve got USA Today and I’ve got a novel.

What are you reading right now?

I just finished reading a book that was written in 1959 … by a Polish prisoner who was in a prison camp who walked … and it was Slawomir Rawicz, I believe was the author … it was awesome. These Polish prisoners broke out of this Russian camp in Siberia and they walked, I don’t know, 4,000 miles to India.

Do your children have a favorite song of yours?

Olivia, of course, she loves “Olivia”, that’s the third track on the album that’s out now In My Dreams. I wrote it before she was conceived … Karla and I thought if we had a girl we’d name her Olivia. Luke’s kind of more of a rock ‘n roll guy. And Presley likes everything that she hears me do. She thinks everybody is me – everything she hears she thinks is me. (laughs)

Who do you hear on the radio that you like?

That’s a good question. Um, I’m always a sucker for the more traditional country artists like Alan Jackson. He’s one of those who maintains the roots and integrity of country music.